Let us now follow the movements of Sherman's expedition, and the subsequent events, which for a time delayed all active operations against Vicksburg. The approach to Vicksburg by land, from Johnston's Landing, the place where the embarkation was successfully accomplished by the troops, after the armed vessels had silenced a battery planted by the Confederates to resist the landing, is peculiarly difficult. The town is on a hill, with a line of hills surrounding it at a distance of several miles, extending from Haine's Bluff, on the Yazoo River, to Warrenton, ten miles below, on the Mississippi River. The low ground in the vicinity is swampy, and filled with sloughs, lagoons, and bayous. The approach over such a country would, even in times of peace, be very difficult for a large force, and in war, with an enemy in front, it was almost an impossibility. On the morning of the 27th of December, the army was drawn up in line, prepared to make the assault. Sherman was of course unaware of the disaster at Holly Springs on the 20th. The general advance commenced, and the enemy was driven back about one fourth of a mile from his original position. The next day the men pressed forward with great bravery; but the want of coöperation of Grant's command disarranged the plan of action, left Sherman's force too weak, and enabled the Confederates to be largely reënforced by the men who were freed by Grant's falling back, and could be used for this purpose. During the next day, also, the 29th, the fighting was continued; but the attempt was futile, and General Sherman gave orders for the troops to reembark. By the arrival upon the ground of General McCler nand, who ranked General Sherman by over a month in the date of his commission, the command was transferred, and by the orders of the new commander, the vessels were withdrawn from the Yazoo to the Mississippi. The title of the army was also changed, and these facts were announced by General Sherman to the troops in the following order : General Orders, No. 5. HEADQUARTERS RIGHT WING ARMY OF TENNESSEE, STEAMER FOREST QUEEN, MILLIKEN'S BEND, January 4, 1863. Pursuant to the terms of General Orders, No. 1, made this day by General McClernand, the title of our army ceases to exist, and constitutes in the future the Army of the Mississippi, composed of two "army corps," one to be commanded by General G. W. Morgan, and the other by myself. In relinquishing the command of the army of the Tennessee, and restricting my authority to my own corps, I desire to express to all commanders, to soldiers and officers, recently operating before Vicksburg, my hearty thanks for the zeal, alacrity, and courage manifested by them on all occasions. We failed in accomplishing one purpose of our movementthe capture of Vicksburg; but we were part of a whole. Ours was but part of a combined movement, in which others were to assist. We were on time; unforeseen contingencies must have delayed the others. We have destroyed the Shreveport road; we have attacked the defences of Vicksburg, and pushed the attack as far as prudence would justify; and having found it too strong for our single column, we have drawn off in good order and good spirits, ready for any new move. A new commander is now here to lead you. He is chosen by the President of the United States, who is charged by the Constitution to maintain and defend it, and he has the undoubted right to select his own agents. I know that all good officers and soldiers will give him the same hearty support and cheerful obedience they have hitherto given me. There are honors enough in reserve for all, and work enough too. Let each do his appropriate part, and our nation must in the end emerge from this dire conflict purified and ennobled by the fires which now test its strength and purity. All officers of the general staff now attached to my person will hereafter report in person and by letter to Major General McClernand, commanding the army of the Mississippi, on board the steamer Tigress, at our rendezvous at Gaines's Landing and at Montgomery Point. By order of J. H. HAMMOND, A. A. G. Major General W. T. SHERMAN. Before McClernand had assumed the command, General Sherman had conceived the plan of attacking Arkansas Post, and had consulted with Admiral Porter concerning the advantage and feasibility of so doing. McClernand concurring in this design, the army went up White River from the Mississippi, and then by a canal to the Arkansas. Moving up to Fort Hindman, this place was attacked on the 11th, and after about four hours' fighting surrendered. The following report details the operations : HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, MAJOR GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commanding Department of the Tennessee. } I have the honor to report that the forces under my command attacked the Post of Arkansas to-day, at one o'clock, having stormed the enemy's work. We took a large number of prisoners, variously estimated at from seven thousand to ten thousand, together with all his stores, animals, and munitions of war. Rear Admiral David D. Porter, commanding the Mississippi squadron, effectively and brilliantly coöperated, accomplishing this complete success. JOHN A. McCLERNAND, Major General commanding. 10 CHAPTER XVI. REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY. GETTING INTO POSITION BEFORE VICKSBURG. GRANT had been from the commencement of his career gaining the confidence of the government, and the great importance of his plans of operation on the Mississippi becoming more and more apparent, he was finally furnished new troops in such numbers as required a new organization. He therefore issued the following order, organizing his army into army corps — a system which is French in its origin, but the advantages of which are so manifest, particularly in handling large bodies of men, that experience soon led to its adoption. One of its chief advantages is, that it gives to competent corps commanders a sufficient field for the display of their abilities, and relieves the chief from a great deal of official drudgery; the reports, &c., being settled at the corps headquarters, and only digests being handed in to the chief. On the field also orders are issued to corps commanders, and they are held responsible for their execution. In fact each corps is an independent army, regularly organized, and ready to act independently as well as in coöperation. General Orders, No. 14. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, By directions of the General-in-chief of the army, the troops in this department, including those of the department of the Missouri, operating on the Mississippi River, are hereby divided into four army corps, as follows: 1. The troops composing the Ninth Division, Brigadier General G. W. Morgan commanding; the Tenth Division, Brigadier General A. J. Smith commanding; and all other troops operating on the Mississippi River below Memphis, not included in the Fifteenth Army Corps, will constitute the Thirteenth Army Corps, under the command of Major General John A. McClernand. 2. The Fifth Division, Brigadier General Morgan L. Smith commanding; the division from Helena, Arkansas, commanded by Brigadier General F. Steele; and the forces in the "District of Memphis," will constitute the Fifteenth Army Corps, and be commanded by Major General W. T. Sherman. 3. The Sixth Division, Brigadier General J. McArthur commanding; the Seventh Division, Brigadier General I. F. Quimby commanding; the Eighth Division, Brigadier General L. F. Ross commanding; the Second Brigade of cavalry, Colonel A. L. Lee commanding; and the troops in the "District of Columbus," commanded by Brigadier General Davies, and those in the "District of Jackson," commanded by Brigadier General Sullivan, will constitute the Sixteenth Army Corps, and be commanded by Major General S. A. Hurlbut. 4. The First Division, Brigadier General J. W. Denver commanding; the Third Division, Brigadier General John A. Logan commanding; the Fourth Division, Brigadier General J. G. Lauman commanding; the First Brigade of cavalry, Colonel B. H. Grierson commanding; and the forces in the "District of Corinth," commanded by Brigadier General G. M. Dodge, will constitute the Seventeenth Army Corps, and be commanded by Major General J. B. McPherson. District commanders will send consolidated returns of their forces to these beadquarters, as well as to army corps head |